Involve us in tree pruning drives:Locals……KunalPurohit
In abid to reducethe number of casualties caused by dangerously growing trees —this monsoon, falling branches and trees killed three people and injured 11 —the residents of Bandraand Khar asked the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation(BMC) to involvethem in tree pruning operations.
The citizens’ bodies suggested thatlocals accompany officials on tree pruning drives and thattheybeinformed beforeany such operation is undertaken.
So far, Advanced Locality Managements(ALMs)and citizens’ bodies have been monitoring trees in their areas and informing theBMCof the ones thatneed pruning.
Now, Anandini Thakoor, chairperson ofHWest Ward Citizens’ Federation, said: “Weare asking the BMC to involveALMs in amoresystematic manner so thatthe tree pruning mechanismis moreorganised.” Aftab Siddiqui, chairperson of the 33rdRoadALM, said: “For years,wegave theBMCa list of dangerously growing trees and their locations. This wasdone so thattheyactively prunethe trees ratherthanneglect them.”This will continue to ensurethe BMC isn’t lax in pruning trees.
The BMC’sresponse,residents said,wasfoundwanting.
“Wesuggested the newmechanism in Juneandagain on last Saturday, but the BMC is yet to actonit,”said Thakoor.
AnHWestward official said on condition of anonymity sinceheisnot authorised to speak to the media thatresidents arebeing involved.
“Locals knowthe problems in their areas better than us.
Hence, we have started involving them in pruning drives.On Tuesday, we hadtwo ALM meetingstoinspect trees,”said the officer.
Hindustan Times hadcarried aseries of articles about howthe BMC’sneglect, combined with an unscientific tree pruning,was endangering citizens.
Following the reports, the BMC announced anew tree trimming mechanism along withacompensation policy for victims of falling branches and trees.